Blueberry plant named &#39;Ridley 1111&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Vaccinium hybrid  plant named ‘RIDLEY 1111’, characterized by its combination of upright to bushy plant shape and strong plant growth vigor, evergreen foliage, earliness of flowering and fruiting, medium fruit size, firm fruit suited to handling, attractive dark blue fruit color and small picking scar. This combination results in higher quality fruit with an earlier availability than other varieties.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Vaccinium hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Ridley 1111’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety ofVaccinium hybrid (Southern Highbush Blueberry), which has been given thevariety denomination of ‘Ridley 1111’. Its market class is that of afruiting plant. ‘Ridley 1111’ is intended for use as fresh fruit forshipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home gardenplant.

The new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar is a selection resulting fromseedlings produced in a breeding programme of Vaccinium at Lindendale,NSW, Australia in 2001 from open pollinated seed parent “C99-42” (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 20,695). The new cultivar was discovered and selected asa single plant within a population of plants of Vaccinium hybrids in2003 in a commercial field plantation environment at Lindendale, NewSouth Wales, Australia. Selection criteria was a combination of strongplant growth vigor, low chilling requirement, earliness of flowering andfruiting, firm fruit suited to handling, sweet berries and small pickingscar. The selection was subsequently evaluated for a number of years atthe commercial farms of Mountain Blue Orchards at Lindendale, New SouthWales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since2003 at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia and has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been primarily compared to the variety ‘C99-42’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,695). In Lindendale, New South Wales, Australiathe time of fruit ripening of ‘Ridley 1111’ is classified as ‘veryearly’ whereas the time of fruit ripening of ‘C99-42’ is classified as‘early’. The earlier time of fruit ripening of ‘Ridley 1111’ allows fora greater period of production on farm and an ability to supply freshfruit markets at an earlier date than ‘C99-42’. The time of beginning offlowering of ‘Ridley 1111’ is classified as ‘very early’ whereas thetime of beginning of flowering of time of ‘C99-42’ is classified as‘very early to early’. The leaf width of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium tobroad’ (mean 31.3 mm) whereas the leaf width of ‘C99-42’ is ‘narrow tomedium’ (mean 25.0 mm). The berry diameter of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘mediumto large (mean 17.3 mm) whereas the berry diameter of ‘C99-42’ is‘medium’ (mean 15.5 mm). The berry shape of ‘Ridley 1111’ is oblatewhereas the berry shape of ‘C99-42’ is a round. The berry calyx basindiameter of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium to large (mean 6.8 mm) whereas theberry calyx basin diameter of ‘C99-42’ is ‘medium’ (mean 5.6 mm). Theberry sweetness of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium to high’ whereas ‘C99-42’ is‘low to medium’. This combination of vegetative and fruiting attributesresults in ‘Ridley 1111’ being a desirable variety for very early seasoncommercial production. See Table 1 for comparisons

‘Ridley 1111’ can also be compared to the variety ‘Jewel’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 11,807). The plant growth vigour of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘strong’whereas the plant growth vigour of ‘Jewel’ is ‘medium to strong’. InLindendale, New South Wales, Australia the time of fruit ripening of‘Ridley 1111’ is classified as ‘very early’ whereas the time of fruitripening of ‘Jewel’ is classified as ‘mid-season’. The time of beginningof flowering of ‘Ridley 1111’ is classified as ‘very early’ whereas thetime of beginning of flowering of time of ‘Jewel’ is classified as‘early to medium’. The size of the flower's corolla tube of ‘Ridley1111’ is ‘medium to large’ whereas the size of corolla tube of ‘Jewel’is ‘small to medium’. The berry shape of ‘Ridley 1111’ is oblate whereasthe berry shape of ‘Jewel’ is a round. The berry calyx basin diameter of‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium to large (mean 6.8 mm) whereas the berry calyxbasin diameter of ‘Jewel’ is ‘medium’ (mean 5.7 mm). The berry sweetnessof ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium to high’ whereas ‘Jewel’ is ‘medium’. Theberry acidity of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium’ whereas ‘Jewel’ is ‘high’.

‘Ridley 1111’ can also be compared to the variety ‘Snowchaser’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 19,503). The plant growth vigour of ‘Ridley 1111’ is‘strong’ whereas the plant growth vigour of ‘Snowchaser’ is ‘medium’.The leaf length of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium to long’ (mean 58.8 mm)whereas the leaf length of ‘Snowchaser’ is ‘long’ (mean 63.8 mm). Thesize of the flower's corolla tube of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium to large’whereas the size of corolla tube of ‘Snowchaser’ is ‘medium’. The berryshape of ‘Ridley 1111’ is oblate whereas the berry shape of ‘Snowchaser’is a round. The berry calyx basin depth of ‘Ridley 1111’ is ‘medium’whereas the berry calyx basin depth of ‘Snowchaser’ is ‘shallow’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘RIDLEY 1111’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid plant:

-   -   1. Upright to bushy plant growth habit    -   2. Very early timing of beginning of flowering    -   3. Very early timing of fruit ripening    -   4. Strong plant growth vigour    -   5. Dark blue berry color    -   6. Berry firmness is firm    -   7. Picking scar is dry        Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the Vaccinium        hybrid parents primarily in very early to early timing of        beginning of flowering and very early to early timing of fruit        ripening whereas the parent varieties are early to mid season in        these characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘RIDLEY 1111’.

FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘RIDLEY 1111’ in a commercial field planting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a ‘RIDLEY 1111’ leaf and berry shapes and dimensions.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of an Vaccinium hybrid ornamental plant known as ‘RIDLEY 1111’.Plant observations were made on plants grown in Lindendale, New SouthWales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosedherein are based upon observations made in August 2009 of mature ‘RIDLEY1111’ plants (age 4 years) grown in outdoor field plantings with daytemperature ranging from 21° C. to 23° C., night temperatures rangingfrom 10° C. to 12° C., and light levels ranging from 6 to 8 klux. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics willvary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘RIDLEY 1111’ has notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable.

The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environmentsuch as season, temperature, light quality, light intensity, day length,cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, 2007 edition.

-   Botanical classification: Vaccinium hybrid cultivar RIDLEY 1111.-   Parentage:    -   -   Parents.—seed parent “C99-42” (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,695).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—semi-upright and bushy. Growth vigor is            strong. Plant height is approximately 2.0 m. Plant width is            approximately 1.2 m. Flower bud density is medium.            Twigginess is low. Time of beginning of flowering is very            early (begins late April to early May; peaks mid July) when            grown as an evergreen in Australia. Time of fruit ripening            is very early (begins early to mid June; peaks mid            September) when grown as an evergreen in Australia.-   Stem: Suckering tendency: Plants typically have 5-7 major canes per    plant from a base 30cm in diameter on 6 year old plants.    -   -   Canes.—erect to semi-erect with moderate branching; color            greyed orange 198C; 2 year old cane diameter 12 mm, colored            greyed orange 177B, some flaking of bark, current season            wood diameter 3-4 mm, colored yellow green 144C Internode            length on strong, new shoots 15-20 mm        -   Fruiting wood.—numerous twigs to 10 cm in length.        -   Surface texture of new wood.—smooth.-   Fully developed leaf: Length medium to long 60-70 mm Width medium to    broad approximately 30 mm Shape elliptic Color yellow green 137A    Intensity of color medium Margin entire Undulation of margin weak    Pubescence of upper side absent Pubescence of lower side absent    Cross sectional profile flat Longitudinal profile straight Attitude    broad acute to horizontal.-   Inflorescence: Length of peduncle to 12 mm Length of pedicel long    4-6 mm Number of flowers per cluster median 7 Flower cluster density    is medium-dense.-   Flowers: Length of corolla tube medium to long (to 15 mm) Width of    corolla tube medium to broad (to 11 mm) Corolla aperture diameter    3-4 mm Color of corolla white 155D Anthocyanin coloration of corolla    absent Corolla ridges present Protusion of stigma absent Fragrance    weak Shape urceolate Abundance of pollen high Calyx (with sepals)    diameter 5-6 mm Calyx color green 138A.    -   -   Productivity.—3 to 4 kg per season from 3-4 year old plants            planted at 3.0 m×0.9 m density.        -   Cold hardiness.—RIDLEY 1111 has not been grown in all            environments including harsh winter environments. Cold            tolerance is expected to be low.        -   Chilling requirement.—RIDLEY 1111 has not been grown in all            environments and is typically grown as an evergreen crop            where chilling hours are not important. RIDLEY 1111 is            classed as ‘low chill’, typical of Southern Highbush            Blueberry varieties with an estimated chilling requirement            of 250 hours (not tested).        -   Leafing.—plants retain leaves year round (at Lindendale, NSW            Australia) and RIDLEY 1111 is grown commercially as an            evergreen crop. New leafing occurs in mid to late August at            Lindendale, NSW Australia.-   Fruit: Unripe fruit color intensity light Unripe fruit color 144A    Cluster density is dense. Diameter is medium (mean 17.3 mm) Weight    medium (approximately 2.1 g) Shape oblate Attitude of calyx erect    Diameter of calyx basin medium (mean 7 mm) Depth of calyx basin is    shallow (to 1.5 mm) Intensity of bloom strong Intensity of blue    color of skin with bloom removed is very dark Color of skin 202A    Sweetness when ripe medium to high Firmness when ripe firm Acidity    when ripe medium Size of scar is small (1.0-1.5 mm) Storage quality    good.    -   -   Date of 50% maturity.—approximately 15^(th) August at            Lindendale, NSW Australia.        -   Fruit development period.—approximately 55 days in protected            cultivation at Lindendale, NSW Australia.-   Seed: Seed color greyed orange 165B Seed abundance in fruit medium    Seed size 1.6-1.8mm long for fully developed seeds.

TABLE 1 Comparison with other varieties (extract from Australian PBRdata) Organ/Plant Part: Context Ridley 1111 C99-42 Jewel Snowchaser*Plant: vigor strong medium medium to medium strong *Plant: growth habitsemi upright semi upright semi upright semi upright *Leaf: length mediumto medium medium long long Leaf: width medium to narrow to medium broadbroad medium *Leaf: shape elliptic elliptic elliptic elliptic Leaf:colour of upper side green green green green *Leaf: intensity of greencolour on medium medium light medium upper side (varieties with greenleaf colour only) *Leaf: margin entire entire entire entire *Flower:size of corolla tube medium to medium small to medium large medium*Flower: anthocyanin coloration of absent or very absent or very absentor very absent or very corolla tube weak weak weak weak Flower: ridgeson corolla tube present present present present Flower: protusion ofstigma absent absent present absent Fruit cluster: density dense densedense medium *Unripe fruit: intensity of green light light light lightcolour *Fruit: size medium to medium to medium to medium to large largelarge large *Fruit: shape in longitudinal section oblate round roundround Fruit: attitude of sepals erect erect erect erect Fruit: diameterof calyx basin medium to medium medium large large Fruit: depth of calyxbasin medium medium medium shallow *Fruit: intensity of bloom strongstrong strong strong *Fruit: color of skin dark blue dark blue dark bluedark blue Fruit: firmness firm firm firm firm *Fruit: sweetness mediumto low to medium medium to high medium high *Fruit: acidity mediummedium high medium Fruit: size of scar small small small Fruit: averageweight of ripe berry (g) 2.1 1.6 2.3 2.2 *Time of: beginning offlowering on very early very early early to very early current year?sshoot (varieties which to early medium fruit on one-year-old and currentseason?s shoots only) *Time of: beginning of fruit ripening very earlyearly mid season very early on current year's shoot (varieties whichfruit on one-year-old and current season's shoots)

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid plant named ‘RIDLEY1111’,substantially as herein shown and described.